U.S. patent application number 09/903598 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-24 for method and system for providing service information through mobile communication device, mobile communication device, portable terminal, mobile communication management server, and computer-readable recording medium.
Invention is credited to Fujiwara, Toshiyuki, Hirotomi, Jun, Kanesaka, Toshiya, Koyama, Kazuhiro, Moriya, Koichi, Sugiyama, Akira, Takano, Kaori.
Application Number | 20020009989 09/903598 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18716990 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020009989 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kanesaka, Toshiya ; et
al. |
January 24, 2002 |
Method and system for providing service information through mobile
communication device, mobile communication device, portable
terminal, mobile communication management server, and
computer-readable recording medium
Abstract
An information provision method effectively utilizes a mobile
communication infrastructure to offer a user-friendly communication
service. A portable telephone is carried in a state of being
separated from a user's body while a wrist-worn portable terminal
is carried in a state of being maintained in direct contact with
the user's wrist like a wristwatch. When the portable telephone
receives service information during a main communication process,
e.g., telephone conversation, it transfers the service information
to the wrist-worn portable terminal. The wrist-worn portable
terminal outputs and displays the transferred service information.
A portable telephone company enables communication through the
user's portable telephone by using a portable telephone
communication infrastructure, and transmits service information to
the portable telephone during intervals between time periods for
the main communication process. A service information provider
company provides an advertisement as service information to be
transmitted to the user's portable telephone.
Inventors: |
Kanesaka, Toshiya;
(Chiba-shi, JP) ; Moriya, Koichi; (Chiba-shi,
JP) ; Sugiyama, Akira; (Chiba-shi, JP) ;
Hirotomi, Jun; (Chiba-shi, JP) ; Koyama,
Kazuhiro; (Chiba-shi, JP) ; Fujiwara, Toshiyuki;
(Chiba-shi, JP) ; Takano, Kaori; (Chiba-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ADAMS & WILKS
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW
31st Floor
50 Broadway
New York
NY
10004
US
|
Family ID: |
18716990 |
Appl. No.: |
09/903598 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/414.2 ;
455/418; 455/419 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/7243 20210101;
H04M 2207/18 20130101; H04M 1/72412 20210101; H04W 88/02 20130101;
H04M 3/4878 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/414 ;
455/418; 455/419 |
International
Class: |
H04M 003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 24, 2000 |
JP |
2000-222792 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of providing service information through a mobile
communication device, comprising the steps of: accumulating service
information to be transmitted to mobile communication devices;
transmitting service information to an arbitrary mobile
communication device during intervals between time periods for a
main communication process performed by the arbitrary mobile
communication device; and outputting the service information on the
mobile communication device side.
2. A method of providing service information according to claim 1,
further comprising the step of transferring the service information
from the mobile communication device receiving the service
information to a portable terminal capable of direct communication
with the mobile communication device, wherein the portable terminal
outputs the service information.
3. A method of providing service information according to claim 1,
further comprising the step of requesting a user to confirm the
user's intention to output the service information or not.
4. A method of providing service information according to claim 2,
further comprising the steps of: requesting a user to confirm the
user's intention to output the service information or not; and
outputting the service information by determining that the user has
performed a predetermined confirmation operation when an
acceleration sensor provided in the portable terminal detects a
predetermined acceleration.
5. A method of providing service information according to claim 1,
further comprising the step of transmitting the service information
to the mobile communication terminal and making the mobile
communication terminal output the service information in a
predetermined cycle during the main communication process.
6. A method of providing service information according to claim 1,
further comprising the step of computing an amount claimed to be
paid for communication such that the charge for communication to be
paid by the user using the service information during the main
communication process is reduced to zero while the service
information provider is charged the amount corresponding to the
charge for communication.
7. A method of providing service information according to claim 1,
further comprising the step of computing an amount claimed to be
paid for communication such that the charge for communication to be
paid by the user using the service information during the main
communication process is discounted, while the service information
provider is charged the amount corresponding to the reduction in
the charge for communication to be paid by the user.
8. A method of providing service information according to claim 1,
further comprising the step of adding a point for offering a
privilege to the user according to the service information used by
the user during the main communication process.
9. A method of providing service information according to claim 1,
further comprising the step of transmitting the service information
as letter or image information to the mobile communication device
and making the mobile communication device display the information
if the main communication process is a process of telephone
communication using speech.
10. A method of providing service information according to claim 1,
further comprising the step of transmitting the service information
as speech information to the mobile communication device and making
the mobile communication device announce the information if the
main communication process is a process of communication using
letters or an image.
11. A system for providing service information through a mobile
communication device, comprising: service information accumulation
means for accumulating service information to be transmitted to the
mobile communication devices; service information transmitting
means f or transmitting service information to an arbitrary mobile
communication devices during intervals between time periods for a
main communication process performed by the arbitrary mobile
communication device; and service information outputting means for
outputting the service information on the mobile communication
device side.
12. A system for providing service information through a mobile
communication device according to claim 11, further comprising
service information transfer means for transferring the service
information from the mobile communication device receiving the
service information to a portable terminal capable of direct
communication with the mobile communication device, wherein the
service information transfer means is provided in the portable
terminal, and the portable terminal outputs the service
information.
13. A system of providing service information according to claim
11, further comprising confirmation means for requesting a user to
confirm the user's intention to output the service information or
not.
14. A system of providing service information according to claim
12, further comprising: confirmation means for requesting a user to
confirm the user's intention to output the service information or
not; and an acceleration sensor provided in the portable terminal,
wherein, when a predetermined acceleration is detected by the
acceleration sensor, the confirmation means determines that the
user has performed a predetermined confirmation operation, and
enables outputting of the service information.
15. A system of providing service information according to claim
11, further comprising timing output means for transmitting the
service information to the mobile communication terminal and making
the mobile communication terminal output the service information in
a predetermined cycle during the main communication process.
16. A system of providing service information according to claim
11, further comprising free-of-charge communication fee computation
means for computing an amount claimed to be paid for communication
such that the charge for communication to be paid by the user using
the service information during the main communication process is
reduced to zero while the service information provider is charged
the amount corresponding to the charge for communication.
17. A system of providing service information according to claim
11, further comprising discounted communication fee computation
means for computing an amount claimed to be paid for communication
such that the charge for communication to be paid by the user using
the service information during the main communication process is
discounted, while the service information provider is charged the
amount corresponding to the reduction in the charge for
communication to be paid by the user.
18. A system of providing service information according to claim
11, further comprising point addition means for adding a point for
offering a privilege to the user according to the service
information used by the user during the main communication
process.
19. A system of providing service information according to claim
11, further comprising letter and image selection means for
transmitting the service information as letter or image information
to the mobile communication device and making the mobile
communication device display the information if the main
communication process is a process of telephone communication using
speech.
20. A system of providing service information according to claim
11, further comprising announcement selecting means for
transmitting the service information as speech information to the
mobile communication device and making the mobile communication
device announce the information if the main communication process
is a process of communication using letters or an image.
21. A mobile communication device comprising service information
transfer means for transferring service information to a portable
terminal capable of direct communication with the mobile
communication device when the mobile communication device receives
the service information.
22. A portable terminal comprising service information output means
for outputting service information when the service information is
transferred from a mobile communication device capable of direct
communication with the portable terminal.
23. A portable terminal according to claim 22, further comprising
means for requesting a user to confirm the user's intention to
output the service information or not.
24. A portable terminal according to claim 23, further comprising
an acceleration sensor, wherein when a predetermined acceleration
is detected by the acceleration sensor, the confirmation means
determines that the user has performed a predetermined confirmation
operation, and enables outputting of the service information.
25. A mobile communication management server comprising service
information transmitting means for transmitting service information
to an arbitrary mobile communication device during intervals
between time periods for a main communication process performed by
the arbitrary mobile communication device.
26. A mobile communication management server according to claim 25,
further comprising service information accumulation means for
accumulating service information to be transmitted to the mobile
communication devices.
27. A mobile communication management server according to claim 25,
further comprising service information acquisition means connected
to a provider server which manages a service information provider,
in which service information to be transmitted to the mobile
communication devices is accumulated, the service information
acquisition means for obtaining service information from the server
and for transmitting the service information to the mobile
communication device.
28. A computer-readable recording medium comprising a program
stored thereon, the program enabling a computer to execute a method
of providing service information through a mobile communication
device according to claim 1.
29. A computer-readable recording medium comprising a program
recorded thereon so as to be readable by a computer, the program
realizing the respective means according to claim 11.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a method and system for
providing service information through a mobile communication
device, a mobile communication device, a portable terminal, a
mobile communication management server, and a computerreadable
recording medium. The present invention is particularly useful in
improving customer service to users who use mobile communication
devices such as portable telephones or terminals in the Personal
Handyphone System (PHS) as well as in providing a new business.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Techniques for performing communication based on a cellular
system or a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, i.e.,
communication using mobile devices, such as portable telephones or
PHS terminals in the PHS system, have recently been developed.
Also, techniques enabling easier use of such devices have been
provided.
[0005] However, this kind of mobile communication techniques are
under development and the development cost is reflected in the
telephone rate, so that users must pay high telephone rates. Thus,
the improvement in communication service in terms of user's
satisfaction has been limited. On the other hand, with the
development of communication techniques, communication systems have
been developed in which mobile communication devices such as
portable telephones can transmit and receive character and image
data as well as phone conversation signals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In view of the above-described circumstances, an object of
the present invention is to provide means for offering more
user-friendly communication service by effectively utilizing mobile
communication infrastructures.
[0007] To achieve this object, according to one aspect of the
present invention, there is provided a method of providing service
information through a mobile communication device, characterized by
comprising the steps of accumulating service information to be
transmitted to mobile communication devices, transmitting service
information to arbitrary one of the mobile communication devices
during intervals between time periods for a main communication
process performed by the arbitrary one of the mobile communication
devices, and outputting the service information on the mobile
communication device side. According to this method, while a user
is mainly performing communication such as telephone conversation
or mailing by using a portable telephone, service information is
provided in association with the main communication. Thus, this
method improves customer service and enables provision of a new
operation.
[0008] The above-mentioned service information is some of various
kinds of information, e.g., an advertisement, a quiz, a
questionnaire, a prize competition, and information from a portable
telephone company. The mobile communication device is, for example,
a portable telephone, a PHS terminal, or a personal data assistant
(PDA).
[0009] The above-described method of providing service information
through the mobile communication device in accordance with the
present invention characterized by also comprising the step of
transferring the service information from the mobile communication
device receiving the service information to a portable terminal
capable of direct communication with the mobile communication
device, the service information being output by the portable
terminal. In a case where a user cannot see the display of the
mobile communication device when using the mobile communication
device for telephone conversation, the service information can be
output by being displayed on the portable terminal, thereby
enabling the user to recognize the information.
[0010] The above-described method of providing service information
through the mobile communication device in accordance with the
present invention characterized by also comprise the step of
requesting the user to confirm the user's intention to output the
service information or not. This step enables the user to output
the service information or inhibit outputting of the service
information according to user's wish. Thus, service information can
be provided according to circumstances under which the user is
using the mobile communication device.
[0011] The above-described method of providing service information
through the mobile communication device in accordance with the
present invention characterized by comprising the step of
requesting the user to confirm the user's intention to output the
service information or not, and outputting the service information
by determining that the user has performed a predetermined
confirmation operation when an acceleration sensor provided in the
portable terminal detects a predetermined acceleration. For
example, if the portable terminal is of a wristwatch type
(hereinafter referred to as "wrist-worn portable terminal), and if
the user makes, for example, a rotational motion of the arm, this
motion can be detected as an acceleration. In this manner, the user
can easily perform the confirmation operation.
[0012] The above-described method of providing service information
through the mobile communication device in accordance with the
present invention characterized by comprising the step of
transmitting the service information to the mobile communication
device and making the mobile communication device output the
service information in a predetermined cycle during the main
communication process, thus enabling the service information
provider to efficiently to carry out the operation.
[0013] The above-described method of providing service information
through the mobile communication device in accordance with the
present invention may also comprise the step of computing an amount
claimed to be paid for communication such that the charge for
communication to be paid by the user using the service information
during the main communication process is reduced to zero while the
service information provider is charged the amount corresponding to
the charge for communication, thus making it possible to provide a
service beneficial to users.
[0014] The above-described method of providing service information
through the mobile communication device in accordance with the
present invention may comprise the step of computing an amount
claimed to be paid for communication such that the charge for
communication to be paid by the user using the service information
during the main communication process is discounted while the
service information provider is charged the amount corresponding to
the reduction in the charge for communication to be paid by the
user, thus making it possible to provide a service beneficial to
users.
[0015] The above-described method of providing service information
through a mobile communication device in accordance with the
present invention may comprise the step of adding a point for
offering a privilege to the user according to the service
information used by the user during the main communication process,
thus making it possible to provide a service beneficial to
users.
[0016] The above-described method of providing service information
through a mobile communication device in accordance with the
present invention may comprise the step of transmitting the service
information as letter or image information to the mobile
communication device and making the mobile communication device
display the information if the main communication process is a
process of telephone communication using speech, thus providing
service information by considering user's operating ease.
[0017] The above-described method of providing service information
through a mobile communication device in accordance with the
present invention may comprise the step of transmitting the service
information as speech information to the mobile communication
device and making the mobile communication device announce the
information if the main communication process is a process of
communication using letters or an image, thus providing service
information by considering user's operating ease.
[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a system for providing service information through a
mobile communication device, comprising service information
accumulation means for accumulating service information to be
transmitted to mobile communication devices, service information
transmitting means for transmitting the service information to
arbitrary one of the mobile communication devices during intervals
between time periods for a main communication process performed by
the arbitrary one of the mobile communication devices, and service
information outputting means for outputting the service information
on the mobile communication device side, thereby enabling the
above-described method for providing service information through
the mobile communication device to be carried out.
[0019] The above-described system for providing service information
through the mobile communication device may also comprise service
information transfer means for transferring the service information
from the mobile communication device receiving the service
information to a portable terminal capable of direct communication
with the mobile communication device. The service information
transfer means is provided in the portable terminal, and the
portable terminal outputs the service information, thereby enabling
the above-described method for providing service information
through the mobile communication device to be carried out.
[0020] The above-described system for providing service information
through the mobile communication device may comprise confirmation
means for requesting a user to confirm the user's intention to
output the service information or not, thereby enabling the
above-described method for providing service information through
the mobile communication device to be carried out.
[0021] The above-described system for providing service information
through the mobile communication device may comprise confirmation
means for requesting a user to confirm the user's intention to
output the service information or not, and an acceleration sensor
provided in the portable terminal. When a predetermined
acceleration is detected by the acceleration sensor, the
confirmation means determines that the user has performed a
predetermined confirmation operation, and enables outputting of the
service information, thereby enabling the above-described method
for providing service information through the mobile communication
device to be carried out.
[0022] The above-described system for providing service information
through the mobile communication device may comprise timing output
means for transmitting the service information to the mobile
communication device and making the mobile communication device
output the service information in a predetermined cycle during the
main communication process, thereby enabling the above-described
method for providing service information through the mobile
communication device to be carried out.
[0023] The above-described system for providing service information
through the mobile communication device may also comprise
free-of-charge communication fee computation means for computing an
amount claimed to be paid for communication such that the charge
for communication to be paid by the user using the service
information during the main communication process is reduced to
zero while the service information provider is charged the amount
corresponding to the charge for communication, thereby enabling the
above-described method for providing service information through
the mobile communication device to be carried out.
[0024] The above-described system for providing service information
through the mobile communication device may comprise discounted
communication fee computation means for computing an amount claimed
to be paid for communication such that the charge for communication
to be paid by the user using the service information during the
main communication process is discounted while the service
information provider is charged the amount corresponding to the
reduction in the charge for communication to be paid by the user,
thereby enabling the above-described method for providing service
information through the mobile communication device to be carried
out.
[0025] The above-described system for providing service information
through the mobile communication device may comprise point addition
means for adding a point for offering a privilege to the user
according to the service information used by the user during the
main communication process, thereby enabling the above-described
method for providing service information through the mobile
communication device to be carried out.
[0026] The above-described system for providing service information
through the mobile communication device may comprise letter and
image selection means for transmitting the service information as
letter or image information to the mobile communication device and
making the mobile communication device display the information if
the main communication process is a process of telephone
communication using speech, thereby enabling the above-described
method for providing service information through the mobile
communication device to be carried out.
[0027] The above-described system for providing service information
through the mobile communication device may comprise announcement
selecting means for transmitting the service information as speech
information to the mobile communication device and making the
mobile communication device announce the information if the main
communication process is a process of communication using letters
or an image, thereby enabling the above-described method for
providing service information through the mobile communication
device to be carried out.
[0028] According to still another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a mobile communication device comprising service
information transfer means for transferring service information to
a portable terminal capable of direct communication with the mobile
communication device when the mobile communication device receives
the service information.
[0029] According to yet still another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a portable terminal comprising service
information output means for outputting service information when
the service information is transferred from a mobile communication
device capable of direct communication with the portable
terminal.
[0030] The portable terminal in accordance with the present
invention may comprise confirming means for requesting a user to
confirm the user's intention to output the service information or
not in the above portable terminal.
[0031] The portable terminal in accordance with the present
invention may comprise an acceleration sensor. When a predetermined
acceleration is detected by the acceleration sensor, the
confirmation means determines that the user has performed a
predetermined confirmation operation, and enables outputting of the
service information.
[0032] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a mobile communication management server
comprising service information transmitting means for transmitting
service information to an arbitrary mobile communication device
during intervals between time periods for a main communication
process when the main communication is performed by an arbitrary
mobile communication device.
[0033] The mobile communication management server in accordance
with the present invention may also comprise service information
accumulation means for accumulating service information to be
transmitted to the mobile communication devices.
[0034] The mobile communication management server in accordance
with the present invention may also comprise service information
acquisition means connected to a provider server which is managed
by a service information provider, and in which service information
to be transmitted to the mobile communication devices is
accumulated. The service information acquisition means obtains
service information from the server and transmits the service
information to the above-mentioned mobile communication device.
[0035] According to still a further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium
comprising a program stored thereon, the program enabling a
computer to execute the above-described method of providing service
information through the mobile communication device mentioned in
the above invention. Further, there is also provided a
computer-readable recording medium comprising a program recorded
thereon so as to be readable by a computer, the program realizing
each of the above-described means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] A preferred form of the present invention is illustrated in
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of
providing a service information through a portable telephone in
accordance with the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a network
representing a system for providing a service information through
the portable telephone in Embodiment 1 of the present
invention;
[0039] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of
the portable telephone in accordance with the present
invention;
[0040] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of a
wrist-worn portable terminal in accordance with the present
invention;
[0041] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of a
portable telephone company server in accordance with the present
invention;
[0042] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of functional
components of the service information provision system in
Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 7 is a communication sequence diagram of Embodiment 1
of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process performed by the
wrist-worn portable terminal in Embodiment 1 of the present
invention;
[0045] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing confirmation operations in the
portable telephone company server in Embodiment 1 of the present
invention;
[0046] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another process performed by
the wrist-worn portable terminal in Embodiment 1 of the present
invention;
[0047] FIG. 11 is a communication sequence diagram of Embodiment 2
of the present invention;
[0048] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the configuration of a network
representing a system for providing a service information through
the portable telephone in Embodiment 3 of the present
invention;
[0049] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of
an advertisement provider company server in accordance with the
present invention;
[0050] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the configuration of functional
components of the service information provision system in
Embodiment 3 of the present invention; and
[0051] FIG. 15 is a communication sequence diagram of Embodiment 3
of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0052] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments
described below are for illustrative purposes only and are not
intended to limit the scope of the invention.
[0053] FIG. 1 shows a diagram for explaining a method of providing
service information through a portable telephone. As shown in FIG.
1, a user X has a portable telephone 100 and a wrist-worn portable
terminal 200. For example, the portable telephone 100 is put in a
briefcase or the like and carried in a state of being separated
from the user's body while the wrist-worn portable terminal 200 is
carried in a state of being maintained in direct contact on the
user X's wrist like a wristwatch. When the portable telephone 100
receives service information during a main communication process,
e.g., telephone conversation or transmitting or receiving mail, it
transfers the service information to the wrist-worn portable
terminal 200. The wrist-worn portable terminal 200 outputs the
transferred service information in the form of a visual display or
speech.
[0054] A portable telephone company Y uses a communication
infrastructure to enable communication using the portable telephone
100 in the user X's possession. The portable telephone company Y
transmits service information to the portable telephone 100 during
intervals between time periods for a main communication process,
e.g., telephone conversation or mailing performed by the portable
telephone as a duty of a service information providing method of a
portable telephone of this invention. A service information
provider company Z, which is, for example, an advertising agency,
provides an advertisement as service information to be transmitted
to the portable telephone 100 in the user X's possession.
[0055] In the embodiments described below, the above-described
service information is an advertisement and an example in the case
the mobile communication device is a portable telephone is
described. The processing of the present invention can be performed
in the same manner even in a case where the service information is
a questionnaire or a quiz or a mobile communication device such as
a PHS in the above-mentioned other kinds of information. Therefore
only the cases of the embodiments will be described.
[0056] Embodiment 1
[0057] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the network configuration of a
service information provision system using a portable telephone in
Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In this network system, a
portable telephone 100 and a wrist-worn portable terminal 200 can
transmit and receive data to and from each other by means of a
small wireless device (not shown). The portable telephone 100 is
connected to a portable telephone network 300 via a base station
400 to communicate with one of the other portable telephones and
fixed telephones or the like (not shown). A portable telephone
company server 500 is connected to the portable telephone network
300. The portable telephone company server 500 controls portable
telephone communications in accordance with a communication
protocol and transmits service information. The portable telephone
company server 500 manages advertisements as service information,
and transmits an advertisement to the wrist-worn portable terminal
200 through the portable telephone 100 to enable the wrist-worn
portable terminal 200 to output the advertisement in the form of a
display while the portable telephone 100 is operated for telephone
conversation or the like.
[0058] The configurations of the above-described devices and
related processes will be described one by one. FIG. 3 is a diagram
showing the hardware configuration of the portable telephone 100 of
the present invention. The portable telephone 100 has a central
processing unit (CPU) 101, an interface (I/F) 102, a transmitting
and receiving circuit 103, an antenna 104, a read-only memory (ROM)
105, a random access memory (RAM) 106, a keyboard 107, an analog to
digital (A/D) converter 108, a microphone 109, a digital to analog
(D/A) converter 110, a speaker 111, a liquid crystal display (LCD)
controller 112, a liquid crystal display 113, a motor driver 114,
and a motor 115.
[0059] The CPU 101 performs overall control of the portable
telephone by executing various programs. The I/F 102 is a
communication interface. The transmitting and receiving circuit 103
performs processing such as conversion of the frequency of a signal
at the time of transmitting or receiving. The antenna 104 receives
electric waves. The ROM 105 and the RAM 106 store programs executed
by the CPU 101, etc. The keyboard 107 enables a user to input a
command by operating some of its keys. The A/D converter 108
converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The microphone 109
inputs speech as an analog signal. The D/A converter 110 converts a
digital signal into an analog signal. The speaker 111 outputs
sound. The LCD controller 112 controls the light emitting operation
of the LCD 113. The LCD 113 displays various kinds of information.
The motor driver 114 controls the operation of the motor 115. The
motor 115 informs the user of, for example, incoming of a signal by
causing vibration when operating.
[0060] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of
the wrist-worn portable terminal of the present invention. This
wrist-worn portable terminal 200 has a CPU 201, an I/F 202, a
transmitting and receiving circuit 203, an antenna 204, a ROM 205,
a RAM 206, a keyboard 207, an A/D converter 208, a microphone 209,
a D/A converter 210, a speaker 211, a LCD controller 212, a liquid
crystal display 213, a motor driver 214, a motor 215, and an
acceleration sensor 215.
[0061] The CPU 201 performs overall control of the portable
terminal by executing various programs. The I/F 202 is a
communication interface. The transmitting and receiving circuit 203
performs processing such as conversion of the frequency of a signal
at the time of transmitting or receiving. The antenna 204 receives
electric waves. The ROM 205 and the RAM 206 store programs executed
by the CPU 201, etc. The keyboard 207 enables a user to input a
command by operating some of its keys. The A/D converter 208
converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The microphone 209
inputs speech as an analog signal. The D/A converter 210 converts a
digital signal into an analog signal. The speaker 211 outputs
sound. The LCD controller 212 controls the light emitting operation
of the LCD 213. The LCD 213 displays various kinds of information.
The motor driver 214 controls the operation of the motor 215. The
motor 215 informs the user of, for example, incoming of a signal by
causing vibration when operating. The acceleration sensor 215
detects acceleration of the portable terminal when the user
performs a predetermined confirmation operation. For example, when
the user produces a rotational motion of his or her arm while the
portable terminal is worn about the wrist, the acceleration sensor
215 detects an acceleration caused with the rotational motion.
[0062] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of
the portable telephone company server of the present invention.
This portable telephone company server 500 has a CPU 501, an I/F
502, a ROM 203, and a RAM 504. The CPU 501 performs overall control
of the server by executing various programs. The I/F 502 is a
communication interface. The ROM 503 and the RAM 504 store programs
executed by the CPU 501, etc. Specifically, the RAM 504 stores
service information such as advertisements.
[0063] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of functional
components of the service information provision system in
Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The portable telephone 100
has main sections for realizing a service information transfer
function for transferring service information such as an
advertisement to the wrist-worn portable terminal 200 capable of
direct communication with the portable telephone 100 when the
portable telephone 100 receives the service information. That is,
the portable telephone 100 has, as its sections for realizing these
functions, a communication section 116 for controlling
communication with the portable telephone company server 500, a
data recognition section 117 which makes a decision to transmit
service information such as an advertisement to the wrist-worn
portable terminal 200 when the service information is received
during a main communication process, e.g., telephone conversation,
and a small-scale wireless section 113 for controlling
communication with the wrist-worn portable terminal 200. The
portable telephone 100 also has a communication section 118 for
controlling telephone conversation with other communication
devices.
[0064] The wrist-worn portable terminal 200 has main sections for
realizing a service information output function for outputting the
service information when the service information is transferred
from the portable telephone 100 capable of direct communication
with the terminal 200, and a confirmation function for outputting
the service information according to a confirmation made by the
user as to whether the service information should be output, i.e.,
according to a result of determination that the user has performed
a predetermined confirmation operation when a predetermined
acceleration is detected by the acceleration sensor 215. That is,
the wrist-worn portable terminal 200 has, as its sections for
realizing these functions, a small-scale wireless section 217 for
controlling communication with the portable telephone 100, a
notification section 218 for notifying the user of incoming of
service information by vibration, sound or the like, a display
execution determination section 219 for making a determination as
to whether service information should be displayed, a motion
determination section 220 for making a determination as to whether
the confirmation operation has been performed by sensing a change
in acceleration caused by a rotational motion or the like of the
arm, and a display section 221 for controlling display of the
service information.
[0065] The portable telephone server 500 has main sections for
realizing a service information transmitting function for
transmitting service information to any portable telephone 100
during intervals between time periods for a main communication
process performed by an arbitrary portable telephone 100, a service
information accumulation function for accumulating service
information to be transmitted to portable telephones 100, and a
service information acquisition function for establishing a
connection to a provider server (not shown) storing service
information and managed by a service information provider which
obtains service information from the server and transmits the
service information to the portable telephone 100. The portable
telephone company server 500 has, as its sections for realizing
these functions, a communication section 505 for controlling
communication with the portable telephone 100, a data recognition
section 506 for making a decision to transmit an advertisement data
to the portable telephone 100, such as when there is a request for
transmission of the advertisement from the portable telephone 100,
an advertisement information management section 507 for managing
advertisement information, an advertisement information database
(DB) 508 which accumulates advertisement information by management
of the advertisement management section 507, and a communication
control section 509 for controlling communication with such as an
advertisement provider company server (not shown).
[0066] FIG. 7 is a communication sequence diagram relating to
Embodiment 1 of the present invention, showing an example of
transmitting and receiving among the wrist-worn portable terminal
200, the portable telephone 100 and the portable telephone company
server 500. First, when the portable telephone 100 starts a
telephone conversation process continuously with one of other
portable telephones or fixed telephones via the portable telephone
company server 500 (101), the portable telephone company server 500
transmits an advertisement or the like to the portable telephone
100 (102). Then the portable telephone 100 transfers the
advertisement or the like to the wrist-worn portable terminal 200
(103). The wrist-worn portable terminal 200 notifies the user of
the transfer of the advertisement or the like by means of a signal
or the like (104) and displays the advertisement or the like (105).
Then, when a user's confirmation operation or the like is
performed, the wrist-worn portable terminal 200 transmits the
result of confirmation to the portable telephone 100 (106). The
portable telephone 100 then sends a request for transmission of the
next advertisement or the like to the portable telephone company
server 500 (107), and the portable telephone company server 500
transmits the next advertisement or the like in response to the
transmission request (108).
[0067] The portable telephone 100 again transfers the advertisement
or the like to the wrist-worn portable terminal 200 (109). When the
confirmation operation or the like is performed, the wrist-worn
portable terminal 200 displays the next advertisement or the like
(110). The wrist-worn portable terminal 200 transmits the result of
confirmation to the portable telephone 100(111). Subsequently, each
time the advertisement information is updated, the same steps are
repeated. The portable telephone company server 500 to which the
confirmation result is transmitted from the wrist-worn portable
terminal 200 adds a point or the like to data on the user.
According to the result of addition of points, the user is
privileged such as to receive a gift or to have telephone
conversation with no charge.
[0068] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process performed by the
wrist-worn portable terminal in Embodiment 1 of the present
invention. In wrist-worn portable terminal 200, when an
advertisement is transmitted in the course of telephone
conversation, information in the advertisement is displayed (S100)
and a confirmation operation is awaited (S101). When the user
performs a confirmation operation (when depressing of a button or a
certain motion is caused to be detected by the acceleration
sensor), consent information is sent to the portable telephone
company server 500 through the portable telephone 100 (S102) and
information to be displayed is awaited (S104). When the next
advertisement is transmitted and received, the process returns to
the first step. If no confirmation operation is recognized through
a predetermined time period in step S101, the connection to the
advertisement information management section 507 of the portable
telephone company server 500 is severed (S103) and the process is
terminated when the telephone conversation is finished.
[0069] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing confirmation operations in the
portable telephone company server in Embodiment 1 of the present
invention. When the portable telephone company server 500 receives
a confirmation information signal transmitted from the wrist-worn
portable terminal 200 through the portable telephone 100 (S200),
the signal is identified (S201). If the signal is a service
information use signal informing that the user is seeing the
advertisement, a point is added (S202). In the case of a no-use
signal indicating that the advertisement is not seen, no point is
added. A determination is then made as to whether the total of
points exceeds a predetermined value. If the total of points
exceeds the predetermined value, for example, an instruction is
issued to send a gift (S204). If the total of points does not
exceed the predetermined value, the process ends immediately.
[0070] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another process performed by
the wrist-worn portable terminal in Embodiment 1 of the present
invention. In wrist-worn portable terminal 200, when an
advertisement is received during mail receiving processing,
information of the advertisement is output as a speech (S300) and a
confirmation operation is awaited (S301). When the user performs a
confirmation operation (when depressing of a button or a certain
motion is caused to be detected by the acceleration sensor),
consent information is sent to the portable telephone company
server 500 through the portable telephone 100 (S302), the mail
contents are displayed, and the next advertisement to be output as
a speech is awaited (S304). When the next advertisement is
transmitted and received, the process returns to the first step. If
no confirmation operation is recognized through a predetermined
time period in step S301, a confirmation refusal information is
transmitted to the advertisement information management section 507
of the portable telephone company server 500 (S303) and the process
is terminated when the telephone conversation is finished.
[0071] According to the above-described Embodiment 1, a mobile
communication infrastructure can be effectively utilized to improve
customer service, to provide a new business, and to offer more
user-friendly communication service.
[0072] Embodiment 2
[0073] Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 in that timing of
advertisement is performed by the portable telephone company server
500. Embodiment 2 will be described with respect to the points of
difference from Embodiment 1, and the description for the same
components and processing will not be repeated.
[0074] FIG. 11 is a communication sequence diagram relating to
Embodiment 2 of the present invention, showing an example of
transmitting and receiving among the wrist-worn portable terminal
200, the portable telephone 100 and the portable telephone company
server 500. First, the portable telephone 100 starts a telephone
conversation process continuously with one of other portable
telephones or fixed telephones via the portable telephone server
500 (201). The portable telephone company server 500 starts
measuring a lapse of time (202) and transmits an advertisement or
the like to the portable telephone 100 (203). Then the portable
telephone 100 transfers the advertisement or the like to the
wrist-worn portable terminal 200 (204). The wrist-worn portable
terminal 200 notifies the user of the transfer of the advertisement
or the like by means of such as a signal (205) and displays the
advertisement or the like (206).
[0075] When the portable telephone company server 500 recognizes a
lapse of a predetermined time from the transmission of the first
advertisement, it newly starts measuring a lapse of time (207), and
transmits the next advertisement or the like to the portable
telephone 100(208). Then the portable telephone 100 transfers the
advertisement or the like to the wrist-worn portable terminal 200
(209). The wrist-worn portable terminal 200 notifies the user of
the transfer of the advertisement or the like by means of such as a
signal and displays the advertisement or the like (210).
Subsequently, each time the advertisement information is updated,
the same steps are repeated.
[0076] According to the above-described Embodiment 2, the user can
easily obtain new service information such as advertisements
without performing a confirmation operation.
[0077] Embodiment 3
[0078] Embodiment 3 differs from the above-described Embodiments 1
and 2 in that service information of such as an advertisement is
accumulated on the service information provider side, and that the
portable telephone company server accesses a service information
provider company server of such as an advertisement to transmit
service information such as an advertisement to the portable
telephone side as occasion arises.
[0079] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the network configuration of a
service information provision system using a portable telephone in
Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In this network system, a
portable telephone 100 and a wrist-worn portable terminal 200 can
transmit and receive data to and from each other by means of a
small wireless device (not shown). The portable telephone 100 is
connected to a portable telephone communication network 300 via a
base station 400 to communicate with one of other portable
telephones and fixed telephones (not shown). A portable telephone
company server 500 is connected to the portable telephone
communication network 300. The portable telephone company server
500 controls portable telephone communications in accordance with a
communication protocol and transmits service information. The
portable telephone company server 500 is connected to an
advertisement provider company server 700 through the Internet 600.
The advertisement provider company server 700 manages
advertisements as service information, and transmits an
advertisement to the wrist-worn portable terminal 200 through the
portable telephone 100 according to an instruction from the
portable telephone company server 500 to enable the wrist-worn
portable terminal 200 to output the advertisement in the form of,
such as a display while the portable telephone 100 is operated for
telephone conversation or the like.
[0080] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of
the advertisement provider company server of the present invention.
This advertisement provider company server 700 has a CPU 701, an
I/F 702, a ROM 703, and a RAM 704. The CPU 701 performs overall
processing of the server by executing various programs. The I/F 702
is a communication interface. The ROM 703 and the RAM 704 store
programs or the like executed by the CPU 701. Specifically, the RAM
704 stores service information such as advertisements.
[0081] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the configuration of functional
components of the service information provision system in
Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The configuration of
functional components of each of the portable telephone 100, the
wrist-worn portable terminal 200 and portable telephone company
server 500 is the same as that in Embodiment 1, and the description
for it will not be repeated. However, the communication control
section 509 of the portable telephone company server 500 controls
communication with the advertisement provider company server 700 or
the like.
[0082] The advertisement provider company server 700 has main
sections for realizing a function for enabling the portable
telephone company server to access the server on the service
information provider side, in which service information such as
advertisements is accumulated, to transmit service information such
as an advertisement to the portable telephone side as occasion
arises. That is, the advertisement provider company server 700 has,
as its sections for realizing this function, a communication
control section 705 for controlling communication with the portable
telephone company server 500, a data recognition section 706 which
makes a decision to transmit advertisement data through the
portable telephone company server 500 when, such as a request for
transmission of an advertisement is sent from the portable
telephone 100, an advertisement information management section 707
for managing advertisement information, and an advertisement
information database (DB) 708 for accumulating advertisement
information under the management of the advertisement information
management section 707.
[0083] FIG. 15 is a communication sequence diagram relating to
Embodiment 3 of the present invention, showing an example of
transmitting and receiving among the wrist-worn portable terminal
200 the portable telephone 100, the portable telephone company
server 500, and the advertisement provider company server 700.
First, the portable telephone 100 starts a telephone conversation
process continuously with one of other portable telephones or fixed
telephones via the portable telephone server 500 (301). During this
process, the portable telephone company server 500 sends a request
for transmission of an advertisement or the like to the
advertisement provider company server 700 (302), and the
advertisement provider company server 500 transmits an
advertisement or the like to the portable telephone company server
500 in response to the transmission request (303). Then the
portable telephone company server 500 transmits the advertisement
or the like to the portable telephone 100 (304). The portable
telephone 100 transfers the advertisement or the like to the
wrist-worn portable terminal 200 (305).
[0084] The wrist-worn portable terminal 200 notifies the user of
the transfer of the advertisement or the like by means of such as a
signal (306) and displays the advertisement or the like (307). When
a user's confirmation operation or the like is performed, the
wrist-worn portable terminal 200 transmits the result of
confirmation to the portable telephone 100 (308). The portable
telephone 100 then sends a request for transmission of the next
advertisement or the like to the portable telephone company server
500 (309), and the portable telephone company server 500 sends a
request for transmission of the next advertisement or the like to
the advertisement provider company server 700 (310). The
advertisement provider company server 500 transmits the next
advertisement or the like in response to the transmission
request(311). Then the portable telephone company server 500
transmits the advertisement or the like to the portable telephone
100 (312), and the portable telephone 100 transfers the
advertisement or the like to the wrist-worn portable terminal 200
(313). When the confirmation operation or the like is performed,
the wrist-worn portable terminal 200 displays the next
advertisement or the like (314), and transmits the result of
confirmation to the portable telephone 100 (315). Subsequently,
each time the advertisement information is updated, the same steps
are repeated.
[0085] The portable telephone company server 500 to which the
confirmation result has been transmitted from the wrist-worn
portable terminal 200 adds a point or the like to data on the user,
as in Embodiment 1. According to the result of addition of points,
the user is privileged such as to receive a gift or to have
telephone conversation with no charge.
[0086] In Embodiment 3 described above, it is not necessary for the
portable telephone company server 500 to accumulate advertise
information, so that the resources at the portable telephone
company server 500 can be effectively utilized.
[0087] In a case where the service information is such as a quiz or
a questionnaire, it is not necessary for the user to answer it
during a telephone conversation. Quiz or questionnaire data may be
temporarily stored in a memory and the user may answer it (input an
answer) after the telephone conversation. A reply to such service
information may be manually transmitted each time. However, it is
not necessary to immediately transmit the reply. For example, the
reply may be stored in a memory and transmitted at the time of the
next telephone conversation.
[0088] Advertisements may be transmitted periodically at several
times in one day, for example, such as in the morning, at midday
and in the evening as well as during telephone conversation. If the
amount of data of service information such as an advertisement is
large, it may be displayed by being scrolled. Further, the timing
of switching of an advertisement or the like may have, for example,
a cycle of 30 seconds. If a confirmation operation is performed
within a certain time period (e.g., within 10 seconds) after
receiving each advertisement, the charge for a length of telephone
conversation before or after it is reduced to zero (or discounted,
or a point is added).
[0089] At the time of confirmation with respect to a speech
advertisement, the user may be asked to answer a quiz corresponding
to the contents of the speech advertisement such that it is
possible to ascertain from the answer whether the user has listened
to the advertisement. The effectiveness of an advertisement can be
improved by this method. The charge for telephone conversation may
be reduced to zero if the answer is correct, and the user may be
required to pay the charge if the answer is incorrect. Also, at the
time of acquisition of a pay content (road traffic jam information
or a weather forecast), the user may obtain the content with no
charge if the user answers a questionnaire or sees an
advertisement.
[0090] According to the present invention, as described above, a
mobile communication infrastructure is effectively utilized to
improve customer service, to provide a new business, and to offer a
more user-friendly communication service.
* * * * *